New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-08
The GEORGIA. CONVICT SYSTEM
LIKELY TO END WITH DEADLY DUEL.

| EXCITEMENT RUNNING HIdH AND TWO LEADING
MEN SAID TO BE READY TO FIGHT-GOvERNoR
| GORDON FAvoRs ABOLITION
rFRox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNEl
| ATLANTA, Ca, July 5. The convict question In
Georgia Is again to the tore and sensational develop
ments are to be expected at any moment. For many
wears Georgia has leased her couyct and several OF
the leading citizens of the State have been engaged in
the business which the Rev. Dr. ". H. Fston, before
| the State Legislature recently denounced az an
| epitomized hell, The btst known Georgians who
have been connected with the convict leasing business
are United States Senator Joseph E. Brown, Governor
John b. Gordon, ex- Governor James a. SmitD, III
lam b. Lowe, and James w. English. Senator Brown
leases q large number OF conyicts who are worked
In the venerable and pious Senator's mines in Dade
County Ex-Governor Smith has large force at work
on his OgethorDe farm and discussion of the aues
ton leasing convlcs has again arisen from the tact
that q duel is imminent between Ex-Governor Smith
and DIR. Willis +. Westmoreland tho physician whose
duty IL Ia to look after the ards OF the State Not
very long ago Doctor Westmoreland Was interviewed
concerning his visit to Smiths camp, and his state
ments were, at the time printed In The TRIBUNE.
He portrayed most horrible state OF affairs and de-
mandcd that action be taken In the matter by the
Governor. An investigation was held, at the concu-
sion of which xGovernor Smith made some rem arks
rejecting lpon thu character of Dr. Northumberland,
who then very ill. 1t now transpires that as
soon as Westmoreland recovered from hi Illness he
sent challenge to Smith and demanded meeting at
in the newspapers he asserts that Smith has, upon
various pretexts declined to fight. and the doctor now
comes out IN The Atlanta Constitution aud de-
nounces Smith as a cowardly slanderer. etc. IL Is
though. this action will precipitate meeting as both
gentlemen are koOwn to be advocates OF the code"
While all this Is going public discussion OF the
rights of cOnvicts is under way. Governor Gordon,
who is OF the bondsmen one OF the leases, has
made preparations present to the State Legislature,
which meets In special session to morrow, his
views concerning q change In the convict system. The
Governors action has led TO a breach between him
self and Captain James w. English, who have long
been stanch friends. English Is OF the principal
lessees and has made great deal OF money out OF the
business
Il is now the general opinion that the lease system
will be abolished aud the convics all put to work on
the public roads. he abuses OF the system baye
jus tilted the Rev. Dr. Feton's SWEEP ing denunciaton
Some CT the conyicts have been inhumanly treated.
One who lost bis shoes was made to walk,
barefoot hot bricks and was afterward beaten
with leather trace strap because he complained OF
the keepers cruelty In one instance the convicts
were frozen 80 badly that some Of them died and
others lost the Of their limbs. In one case con
vcts feet were frozen SO that the dropped OF.
Badly cooked ratons. spoiled cat, unclean and bor-
ribly ventilated quarters made the death rate appal
lngly high at times. Epidemics were. OF course by
no means uncommon. Complaint was followed by
additionally cruel treatment. Men aud women were
sometimes chained together, whites aud blacks alike
and made to work from daylight until dark. Fevors
and pestl ence not uncommon. These facts aie
CLEANED fiom reports made by the phy-iclans ana
from statements made by discharged convicts The
truth will out IL has been said but In this matter IT
has been q long time coming to the light. Governor
Gordon Is highly comme nded for the attitude he has
taken Ia this matter aud public sentiment s nn-
doubtedly crystazing in favor OF the total abolition
of the lease system. In the meantime the duel
between Ex-Governor Smith and DIR. Westmoreland Is
likely to come on at any time. and when it does they
will be expected to fight to the DEATH as both are
mon OF great determination.